Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in Palm Harbor, FL

Honors/Awards:

• Inducted into ABOTA, Member, American Board of Trial Advocacy, 2011
• Jurisprudence Awards for Torts I, Trial Advocacy, Appellate Argument, and Moot Court
• Betsey has been chosen by her peers as Florida's Legal Elite from 2011 - 2017., Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite, 2019
• Appointed to Mammography Accessibility Workgroup by the President of the Florida Senate, 2004
• Florida Secretary of Health Award for Service, Florida Department of Health, 2004
• AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review RatedSM by Martindale-Hubbell®

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Member, Hillsborough County Bar Association, 2007
• Member, The American Association of Justice
• Board of Directors, Florida Justice Association, 2002 – 2009
• Member of American Board of Trial Advocates since 2011 up to the present time., 2011
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• Member, Florida Justice Association, 1997
• Executive Committee for the Academy of Florida Justice Association, 2005
• Tennessee, 1995
• Member, The Florida Bar Association
• Past President, Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers, 2006 – 2007
• Florida, 1995

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Hillsborough County Ask a Lawyer at Fox 13 News Station, 2019
• Hillsborough County Bar Ask a Lawyer program in affiliation with Fox 13., 2006
• Participation in Hillsborough County Bar Association "Ask a Lawyer" at Fox 13, Tampa, FL, 2008
• Past Secretary of the Women's Caucus and an EAGLE program sponsor
• Served on Hillsborough County Committee for Community Support raising funds for Slain officers and The Gold Shield., 2010

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

• Various lectures on medical topics and preparing clients to testify and preparing your case for trial., Lecturer, CMEs, Cross Examination, Medical Experts, Florida Justice Association, 2001
• Presentation on How the presuit process can be used to learn about the defense of the case., Lecturer, Using Presuit to your Advantage, Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Seminar, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, 2019

Verdicts/Settlements:

• 7 figure resolution of matter with Ride Share Company, 2018
• Verdict of nearly $2,000,000 against State Farm arising from refusal to pay policy limit of $100,000., 2005
• Settlement just under 7 figures for victim who was not blood typed before surgery by anesthesia, surgeon or hospital., 2012
• Eight figure settlement of catastrophic injuries involving a commercial vehicle., 2016
• Settlement of fall with ankle fracture on apartment stairs where resident had lived for 2 years prior in an amount of $289,000., 2009
• Verdict in excess of $1,000,000 against Cypress Gardens in Water Ski show for boat driver's negligence, 2004
• Verdict against GEICO in automobile case with TMJ injury in amount exceeding $750,000., 2001
• Settlement of out of state automobile accident matter for Florida resident of $350,000 for injuries involving rib fracture, fracture of small finger and herniated disk., 2013
• Trial of liability in trucking matter.  Court awarded attorneys fees and verdict in favor of clients., 2018
• Entry of Judgment against GEICO for $750,000 pending bad faith action where policy limit was $10,000. Settlement of case after entry of Judgment in 2011., 2009
• Verdict of $230,000 against Food Lion in fall down case with contested liability and unknown customers who allegedly moved warning cones., 2001
• Settlement with premises insurer involving fall on stairs by resident who had lived in apartment for two years in excess of $250,000.00., 2010
• Seven Figure Settlement (confidential) with major Florida hospital system arising from a failure to inform of radiologic findings for over four years., 2013
• Verdict in Dade County for victims involved in collision with a commercial vehicle.  Court awarded attorneys fees., 2015
• 7 figure settlement with hospital system for failure to diagnose epidural abscess., 2010
• Settlement of Automobile Injury Case in an amount exceeding $200,000 with disk injury from minor side impact., 2010

Transactions:

• High six figure Verdict against trucking company and truck driver.
• Verdict against Allstate in the amount of $653,000 pending bad faith action after underinsured Sheriff's Officer Rear-ender client on $100,000 policy limit where Allstate paid full verdict.

Other Outstanding Achievements:

• Interview with Russell Rhodes on Medical Malpractice and Researching your Physician, 2019
• Fox 13 News - Interviews with Russell Rhodes on Glyphosate Food Contaminants, Key Fob Dangers and Distracted Driving Laws., 2019

Videos:

• Glyphosate is prevalent in food. know which foods are the highest., Food and Drink Contamination - Your Legal Rights, Food Safety, Legal, 2019
• Florida adopted a new law which makes cellphone use a primary offense., Florida Distracted Driving Law, Automotive, Personal Injury, 2019
• Key FOBs are causing CO poisoning.  New technology exists.  Careful for your safety., CO Poisoning From Defective Key Fobs, Automotive Safety, 2019

Educational Background:

• Wake Forest University, M.A., Cardiovascular Physiology, 1985
• University of Florida, B.S., With Honors, 1982
• Memphis State University, J.D., 1994